第50章 MARSHALING THE FORCES(2)

"Boys, there goes a warning that the days of the trail are numbered.To make a success of any business, a little common sense is necessary.Nine tenths of the investing in cattle to-day in the Northwest is being done by inexperienced men.No other line of business could prosper in such incompetent hands, and it's foolish to think that cattle companies and individuals, nearly all tenderfeet at the business, can succeed.They may for a time,--there are accidents in every calling,--but when the tide turns, there won't be one man or company in ten survive.I only wish they would, as it means life and expansion for the cattle interests in Texas.As long as the boom continues, and foreigners and tenderfeet pour their money in, the business will look prosperous.Why, even the business men are selling out their stores and going into cattle.But there's a day of reckoning ahead, and there's many a cowman in this Northwest country who will never see his money again.Now the government demand is a healthy one: it needs the cattle for Indian and military purposes; but this crazy investment, especially in she stuff, Iwouldn't risk a dollar in it."

During the conversation that evening, I was delighted to learn that my employer expected to accompany the herds overland to Ogalalla.There was nothing pressing elsewhere, and as all the other outfits were within a short day's ride in the rear, he could choose his abode.He was too good a cowman to interfere with the management of cattle, and the pleasure of his company, when in good humor, was to be desired.The next morning a horse was furnished him from our extras, and after seeing us safely across the railroad track, he turned back to meet Forrest or Sponsilier.This was the last we saw of him until after crossing into Nebraska.In the mean time my boys kept an eye on the Mexican outfit in our front, scarcely a day passing but what we sighted them either in person or by signal.Once they dropped back opposite us on the western side of the trail, when Cedardall, under the pretense of hunting lost horses, visited their camp, finding them contented and enjoying a lay-over.They were impatient to know the distance to the Rio Platte, and G--Gassured them that within a week they would see its muddy waters and be relieved.Thus encouraged they held the lead, but several times vaqueros dropped back to make inquiries of drives and the water.The route was passable, with a short dry drive from the head of Stinking Water across to the Platte River, of which they were fully advised.Keeping them in sight, we trailed along leisurely, and as we went down the northern slope of the divide approaching the Republican River, we were overtaken at noon by Don Lovell and Dave Sponsilier.

"Quirk," said the old man, as the two dismounted, "I was just telling Dave that twenty years ago this summer I carried a musket with Sherman in his march to the sea.And here we are to-day, driving beef to feed the army in the West.But that's neither here nor there under the present programme.Jim Flood and I have talked matters over pretty thoroughly, and have decided to switch the foremen on the 'Open A' and 'drooping T' cattle until after Ogalalla is passed.From their actions at Dodge, it is probable that they will try and arrest the foreman of those two herds as accessory under some charge or other.By shifting the foremen, even if the ones in charge are detained, we will gain time and be able to push the Buford cattle across the North Platte.The chances are that they will prefer some charges against me, and if they do, if necessary, we will all go to the lock-up together.

They may have spotters ahead here on the Republican; Dave will take charge of your 'Open A's' at once, and you will drop back and follow up with his cattle.For the time being and to every stranger, you two will exchange names.The Rebel is in charge of Forrest's cattle now, and Quince will drop back with Paul's herd.

Dave, here, gave me the slip on crossing the Texas Pacific in the lower country, but when we reach the Union Pacific, I want to know where he is, even if in jail.And I may be right there with him, but we'll live high, for I've got a lot of their money."Sponsilier reported his herd on the same side of the trail and about ten miles to our rear.I had no objection to the change, for those arid plains were still to be preferred to the lock-up in Ogalalla.My only regret was in temporarily losing my mount;but as Dave's horses were nearly as good, no objection was urged, and promising, in case either landed in jail, to send flowers, Iturned back, leaving my employer with the lead herd.Before starting, I learned that the "Drooping T" cattle were in advance of Sponsilier's, and as I soldiered along on my way back, rode several miles out of my way to console my old bunkie, The Rebel.

He took my chaffing good-naturedly and assured me that his gray hairs were a badge of innocence which would excuse him on any charge.Turning, I rode hack with him over a mile, this being my first opportunity of seeing Forrest's beeves.The steers were large and rangy, extremely uniform in ages and weight, and in general relieved me of considerable conceit that I had the best herd among the Buford cattle.With my vanity eased, I continued my journey and reached Sponsilier's beeves while they were watering.Again a surprise was in store for me, as the latter herd had, if any, the edge over the other two, while "The Apple"was by all odds the prettiest road brand I had ever seen.I asked the acting segundo, a lad named Tupps, who cut the cattle when receiving; light was thrown on the situation by his reply.

"Old man Don joined the outfit the day we reached Uvalde," said he, "and until we began receiving, he poured it into our foreman that this year the cattle had to be something extra--muy escogido, as the Mexicans say.Well, the result was that Sponsilier went to work with ideas pitched rather high.But in the first bunch received, the old man cut a pretty little four-year-old, fully a hundred pounds too light.Dave and Mr.